Angus beef sales on the increase

ABERDEEN Angus stock attracted a premium of £80 a beast last year over Continental cattle prices for Scottish producers supplying certified stock to Aberdeen Angus Producers Ltd, according to its annual results.

The 17.5% increase in premium payments was "evidence of effective marketing", according to group chairman William McGregor. As a result, sales of Angus beef rose by 54% in the run-up to the year end.

Numbers sold through the scheme – which requires qualifying animals to be sired by registered Angus bulls and monitored from field to plate – rose to 15,000 head (up 14%). A further £48,000 was distributed to 280 of the 850-strong membership who sell all their certified cattle through the company. &#42